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Unconditional Love

In my other thread about the burial of the deceased bomber, one member posted that, if her child had killed people like that, she would treat her child as "dead to her" regardless of if she was dead or not, and completely detatch herself from her child because she wouldn't love her anymore.

Which got me to thinking, what are your thoughts on unconditional love? Who does your unconditional love extend to? Anyone? Just your children? Your SO? Extended family or close friends?

For me, I love God unconditionally, first of all. After that, I love my family unconditionally, even somewhat removed family members (such as cousins and such) Even if they were to do someting unthinkable, I would still feel that familial bond to them that I don't think I would be capable of emotionally severing.

But (and I know this will make me seem like a monster to some) if I am being truly honest with myself, my love for close friends and even my husband isn't totally unconditional. I think it's because, since I chose to include them in my "family" I can choose to exclude them as well. Don't get me wrong, I am a pretty loyal friend and consider myself a particularly devoted wife, but if it ever came to something like rape or murder, I don't think I could continue to truly love them. Care about them and pray for them, loving them in the Christian "love your enemies" sense sure, but the personal love would be broken.

My love is conditional, I suppose, but it would take A LOT for me to not love my child. I shudder to even type this, but if he were to rape and kill children or something like that, I know I would stop loving him. Even if that makes me horrible. There are some things that are beyond my capabilities.

The love for my children will always be unconditional. I may not like everything they do in life, but I will always love them. I've always said that children are the true meaning of unconditional love. I loved my ex husband at one time, but we divorced, so yes it was conditional otherwise we'd still be married.

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